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Welfare effects of R&D support policies

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  • Takalo, Tuomas
  • Tanayama, Tanja
  • Toivanen, Otto

Abstract

We construct a model of innovation incorporating R&D externalities, R&D participation, financial market imperfections, and application and allocation of R&D subsidies, estimate it using Finnish R&D project level data and conduct a welfare analysis. The intensive, not the extensive R&D margin is important. Financial market imperfections are small. Tax credits and subsidies do not reach first best R&D but increase R&D 29-47% compared to laissez-faire. Welfare effects are small: Tax credits increase welfare 1%; subsidies reduce welfare once application costs are taken into accout. In terms of fiscal cost, tax credits are 90% more expensive than R&D subsidies.

Suggested Citation

  • Takalo, Tuomas & Tanayama, Tanja & Toivanen, Otto, 2022. "Welfare effects of R&D support policies," Bank of Finland Research Discussion Papers 2/2022, Bank of Finland.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:bofrdp:rdp2022_002
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    Cited by:

    1. Saul Lach & Zvika Neeman & Mark Schankerman, 2021. "Government Financing of R&D: A Mechanism Design Approach," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 13(3), pages 238-272, August.
    2. Florin G Maican & Matilda Orth & Mark J Roberts & Van Anh Vuong, 2023. "The Dynamic Impact of Exporting on Firm R&D Investment," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 21(4), pages 1318-1362.
    3. Francesco Decarolis & Gaétan de Rassenfosse & Leonardo M. Giuffrida & Elisabetta Iossa & Vincenzo Mollisi & Emilio Raiteri & Giancarlo Spagnolo, 2021. "Buyers' role in innovation procurement: Evidence from US military R&D contracts," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 697-720, November.
    4. Isabel Busom & Jorge-Andrés Vélez-Ospina, 2021. "Subsidising innovation over the business cycle," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(6), pages 773-803, July.
    5. Koehler, Mila, 2018. "Estimating the benefits of R&D subsidies for Germany," ZEW Discussion Papers 18-002, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    6. Kovács, Olivér, 2020. "Gazellák az iparpolitika tükrében, I [Gazelles and industrial policy, Part 1]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(1), pages 54-87.
    7. Aalto, Eero & Gustafsson, Robin, 2020. "Innovation Promotion Rationales and Impacts – A Review," ETLA Reports 99, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    R&D subsidies; R&D tax credits; extensive and intensive margin; financial market imperfections; welfare; counterfactual; economic growth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • L53 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Enterprise Policy
    • C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions; Social Interaction Models

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